Hi, I hope its appropriate to ask this here, considering this is the most active community closest to this topic (Networking). I am moving places shortly and will need to start from scratch will all networking equipment. Including router and wifi-extenders. Am wondering what the general consencus is around networking gear, what brands are good and homelab friendly? I’ve heard great things about Ubiquity, but know nothing about their products. I do wish to buy a mesh system, as I do have 2 floors and concrete walls in the new place. I am looking for something easy to maintain, yet customizable for when I get more comfortable with playing around with networking equipment.

I have some experience with TP-link + decos, but really dont like their app and default settings. Blocks mullvad.net by default for instance…

If it matters, there will only be 2 people connected normally ~ approx 8 devices or so in total.

  • 2 phones,
  • 2 laptops (wired if possible)
  • 1 desktop comupter (wired)
  • server (wired)
  • Nvdia shield (wired)
  • RaspberriPi (wired)

Am also aiming to buy a 1000/1000 Mbps connection :)

Lemmy know what you would recommend in this scenario, and please feel free to ask about further details if I have missed anything, Thanks as always!

  • friend_of_satan@lemmy.worldEnglish
    53·
    5 months ago

    I have been using ubiquiti for years, and I would strongly caution against using them. They are forcing some devices to sign on to ubiquity cloud and synchronize with their cloud services, and are forcing those sign ins to use MFA. I really miss the ubiquity from 2020, where it was all local. Next time I upgrade my gear, I will probably not buy an ubiquiti router/gateway.

    Also the upgrade process from Usg to dream router was awful. Also they don’t let you run unifi in docker with a dream router, you are forced to run it on-device.

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      5 months ago

      I really miss the ubiquity from 2020, where it was all local.

      I was definitely leery of Ubiquity for that reason since before 2020. Even though back then it could all be local, I feel like pushing people to the cloud was already well-established as being a thing.

      My criteria for routers and wi-fi access points up to this point has basically been “can run OpenWRT and is relatively cheap,” so I’ve settled in on TP-Link. I’m still running on an old Archer C7 from a decade(?) ago and would like to have something that fits in my rack for aesthetic purposes, though, so my next router might be a 1U DIY x86 machine running OPNsense instead.

      • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        3·
        5 months ago

        It’s getting harder to find routers that will run open source firmware. The best option is to run OPNsense or pfSense on a low power x86 machine and use separate APs for WiFi.

    • IHawkMike@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      5 months ago

      I would never use their firewalls/gateways, but their switches are pretty good for the price and their APs are decent (although tbh after 3 generations my next AP will likely be an enterprise Aruba).

      That said, I still use Unifi in docker, everything is up to date, and nothing is requiring a sign-in to the cloud. Am I missing something? If it’s just the firewalls, then I’m not surprised since I’ve never been remotely tempted to use them, but it sure isn’t all of their devices.

    • keyez@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      I have an all Ubiquiti setup and only use local accounts for everything. UDM Pro, 2 8 port switches and 2 APs, U6Mesh and another older AP. One of my accounts had me turn on MFA but every device still let’s me use a local account with a password and ssh key. Do you know what devices are forcing that?

    • ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      What would you recommend as a replacement with same level of novice-friendly UI/setup? I was looking to go down that route specifically because it seems like an easy way to get a solid network setup without being a network pro.

      • kata1yst@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        I can recommend Grandstream. They have a great UI, tons of features explained in plain English, and powerful Access Points for a fair price. Zero cloud features necessary. Also a US based company, if that matters to you.

        But even cooler, the controller is built into the Access Point and is peer-to-peer if multiple APs are in use.

        I switched a month ago from a full Unifi network and couldn’t be happier. Do note that they need PoE injectors to power the APs, but unlike Ubiquiti’s they don’t ship with them.

        • ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1·
          5 months ago

          Hmm, they’re not easily available in the EU it seems.

          Also a US based company, if that matters to you.

          I would consider that a downside TBH, but it’s hard to avoid unfortunately.